SAN GABRIEL VALLEY DIGEST

Arcadia : School Deficit-Cutting Plan

In an effort to reduce a $28,676 debt owed by the Arcadia High School student body, school administrators have raised the price of student body cards, graduation photos and bus transportation to sporting events.

The debt was incurred four years ago when school officials bought band and athletic uniforms, among other things, with money already committed to other projects.

Under the three-year plan, the cost of student body cards was raised this year by $4, to $42 a year. The cost of extracurricular bus transportation was raised by $15, to $75 a year. Income from graduation photos is expected to rise by $1,100. Fund-raising events, which were expected to raise $700, have already produced $1,500.

During the second and third years of the plan, the price of student body cards will rise by $2, bus transportation by $5 and total income from graduation photos by $1,800. Additional budget cuts and fee increases are expected to raise $2,650 during the second year and $4,450 during the third.